Exclusive Q&A with Elle McPherson, WelleCo’s Co-Founder

WelleCo is a brand that’s known for their products that use 45 premium ingredients and formulated by nutrition experts. With wholefoods-derived supplements, WelleCo can provide the nourishment the body systems need, inside out.

Want to learn more about WelleCo? Here’s a Q&A with the brand’s Co-founder, Elle McPherson.

Expert Profile: Elle McPherson

Elle McPherson is a globally-recognised icon and a recipient of numerous awards. With unquestionable ingenuity, Elle continues to inspire women from all over the world. She is not only an entrepreneur and a famous personality in fashion, film, and television. Elle is also the co-founder of a brand that boasts of simple and effective food supplements that deliver optimum health and beauty benefits from within.

What are the basic eating principles/rules/habits you regard as being healthy and acceptable for yourself?

A holistic approach to wellness is key for me, and being Australian always has been. When I was little, my parents would send me to the chiropractor and acupuncturist instead of the doctor. My approach is the same today. Wellness for prevention from illness.

When I was younger, I noticed beauty and youth seemed to go hand-in-hand, but as I matured I realised wellness and beauty seem more aligned, so ultimately a more holistic approach to wellness is a combination of a plant based diet, physical, spiritual and emotional health is most effective for me.

When was the first time you started adding food supplements to your daily routine?

As I approached 50, I realised my lifestyle needed to be adjusted in order to achieve maximum wellness and I could no longer rely purely on genetics or past habits for my well-being. My nutritionist Dr. Simone Laubscher PhD introduced me to the benefits of a plant-based diet rich in absorbable food-based nutrients and no synthetics. I swapped my diet and my body, mood, skin, and hair responded positivity very quickly. I’ve found when I am nourished and maintain a healthy pH balance, it assists with lowering acidity in the body that can lead to inflammation, low energy, weight gain and accelerated ageing of the cells. It has transformed the way I feel and made me realise what a profound impact plant-based nutrition can have on the way I feel and how this can show on the outside.

WelleCo, in essence, has three product offerings: Greens, Protein and Calming Tea. What are the core benefits of each — what needs exactly are catered for by this range?

When Dr Laubscher was formulating the SUPER ELIXIR, she looked at the average imbalances of an adult, and thought about what specific ingredients she could include to support and balance all 11 systems. Some of the key ingredients are horsetail and omega 3 for hair, skin, and nails, probiotics and prebiotics to support the entire digestive system, and shitake and maitake mushrooms that when combined, are great for the immune function. Her considered approach has made the SUPER ELIXIR Greens the ultimate multivitamin.

WelleCo NOURISHING PLANT PROTEIN is a protein and supplement-in-one so you get a nutritional boost with vitamin C and B, pre- and probiotics and a good serving of organic plant-based protein in one hit. It has digestive enzymes to boost metabolic function for a leaner body and promote a healthy gut pH balance, which means a flatter stomach. Because it isn’t whey-based, it doesn’t contain hormones which can work against keeping the body lean. Taking a combination of organic brown rice and pea protein ensures that I get all nine essential amino acids necessary for recovery and muscle repair after exercising, which increases my endurance and energy. I have my shake either at breakfast or as a healthy snack mid-morning and I carry travel sachets around in my bag.

I have always found it difficult to unwind, which is the reason we created SLEEP WELLE Fortified Calming Tea, an all-natural and effective blend of herbs designed to take before bed or during the day for a moment of stillness and calm. It is formulated with skullcap, hops and valerian root, that when combined, has calming effects and eases stress.

WelleCo Super Kids NOURISHING PLANT PROTEIN is a formula made from plants their bodies will recognise, which is part of what sets it apart from other kid’s smoothies and snacks. We’ve included pea and rice proteins, raw Peruvian cacao, pomegranate, broccoli, apple, pumpkin, and beetroot. There’s Zinc for immunity, Probiotics for healthy gut function, Magnesium, Fibre, Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin A, B Vitamins and Vitamin C.

Every single ingredient is sourced from natural ingredients, for example, Ascorbic acid we get from lemons, Zinc gluconate – we source from chickpeas, Niacinamide also known as B3 we source from green peas, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride was also known as B6 is sourced from spinach, Folic acid aka B9 we source from broccoli.

Do you suppose the range could be extended and if yes, what would be your choice of direction/needs to be covered?

We are actually about to launch our new line! SUPER BOOSTERS are therapeutic bioactive formulations designed for targeted support. There are 7 to choose from, including Aquatic Collagen Skin + Hair + Nails, Bone Strength + Joint Health, and Immune System Support with Kakadu Plum. I listen to what my body needs and choose the appropriate booster. I either add a single vial to water or combine with my daily WelleCo SUPER ELIXIR Greens.

For instant energy, I like Women’s Libido + Hormone Support Super Booster. It’s a medicinal blend of herbs and adaptogens that help balance hormones naturally and ramp up energy levels and libido. And it tastes deliciously of fresh raspberries and peach flesh!

What is your own daily ritual as far as ingestible beauty products are concerned?

In the morning, I love a green smoothie packed with organic vegetables, avocado and SUPER ELIXIR Greens. It’s my perfect morning snack because it is satisfying, tastes great, and provides my body’s 11 systems with all the nutrients it needs for the day. I snack on our chocolate NOURISHING PLANT PROTEIN with water and avocado, making a mousse or mix with almond milk for a shake.

You are a super model and many people look up to you. Based on your own experience, what are the top factors accelerating aging processes

For me, dehydration is a top factor so it’s water, water, water! Three liters of water is non-negotiable for keeping my skin healthy.It helps cleanse the digestive system, ignite your metabolism and buffer excess acids. I keep my regime super simple and always nourish from the inside out. Personally, I like to drink at between 2 and 3 litres every day. A little more if I have done a workout.

I have always thought I look healthier with a gentle tan, but as time has passed and I’ve become more educated, I realise I could have been more careful with the sun and my skin. I spent so many years on the beach and often without any sunscreen. Now I choose to cover up and use sunshine sparingly. I also try to remember to wear broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen everyday, especially when out on the reflective ocean sun. La Roche-Posay makes good sunscreens, and I also like Invisible Zinc, which is a physical sunscreen.

I’m vegan at the moment and follow an alkaline diet of organic, seasonal wholefoods. Because greens provide different benefits, I make sure to eat a wide variety. If I am well nourished, fit and well rested, I feel healthy on the inside and see benefits on the outside. It works for me.

How do you help preserve healthy skin and young looks?

Nothing I put on my skin works as well as what I put inside my body, so for me a healthy gut is key to keeping my skin soft and supple. SUPER ELIXIR Greens is formulated with ingredients that are fantastic for glowing skin – pomegranate for vitamin A and its high antioxidant properties, and horsetail extract and aloe vera for combatting the visual effects of ageing including pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles.

I wake at 5am and lie in bed for about 10 minutes before getting ready for my morning routine. It sets me up for the day and is non-negotiable. On waking, I add ginger, mint, and pinch of cayenne pepper to my usual hot lemon water. It has a great detoxifying and fat burning effect. An hour later, I take my two teaspoons of WelleCo SUPER ELIXIR Greens in 500ml of filtered water for firm, plump, hydrated skin. It includes the amazing ingredient horsetail that is full of skin-loving silica that contains collagen. It also aids the repair of body tissues, stimulates healthy cell growth, and is the perfect first step in any beauty routine. I find my complexion is a great health barometer and can show how I’m feeling inside.

At around 6.30am Cy and I have breakfast together. I love a chai pudding soaked in almond milk, before dropping Cy off to school and heading to work out.

My daily exercise routine is crucial for keeping me grounded, empowered and feeling good about myself. I head off for 45 minutes of doing something I love like yoga, stand-up paddle boarding, or I’ll jump on my bike and ride to the beach for a swim.

Then I get ready for work. I take hot and cold showers to ramp up my circulation, then dry brush my body starting from feet and working up towards my heart. I cleanse and exfoliate my face with NeoStrata Resurface Foaming Glycolic Wash and Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant scrub. I moisturise with our quickly absorbed and hydrating follow with WelleCo Organic Rose Geranium Crème, slather on sunscreen and add a little Pat McGrath Skin Fetish cheek shine. I use it instead of makeup, the reflected light on the bones defines the face, brow, and lips.

By 10.30am I am at my desk making lists and ticking them off. I make myself a WelleCo NOURISHING PLANT PROTEIN Peruvian Chocolate smoothie with filtered water and half an avocado. It gives my energy levels a boost and keeps me going until lunch and I’ll often have a green vegetable only fresh homemade juice just before lunch – sort of like a nutritional starter.

Because I have a business that operates on the other side of the world, I spend most of my time making business calls and trying to catch everyone in their various time zones.

Afternoons are spent with family and planning dinner. I try and stick to a vegan wheat-free diet, so it might be a homemade vegetable pizza, vegetables or salad. I don’t have dessert every day, but I do love dark chocolate and vegan ice-cream.

At the end of every day I make sure I do a gratitude list (even if it’s just in my head). Before bed, I take a restorative bath and brew a pot of WelleCo SLEEP WELLE Calming Tea. It contains valerian, hops and skullcap which are known to naturally induce sleep and ease anxiety. I do some yoga and reading to unwind, and scribble in my notepad. I keep one on my nightstand permanently – I find jotting down ideas stops them swirling around my head, and I can fall asleep easily.

How do you relax if short of time?

I brew a pot of WelleCo SLEEP WELLE Calming tea formulated for me by Dr Laubscher. It is formulated with medicinal herbs, valerian, hops, and skullcap, that when combined, help calm body and mind.

Your beloved holiday destination?

Australia! I love Byron Bay. Surfing with dolphins and catching up with my friends there. In Sydney, I love Bondi Beach, especially the Bondi to Bronte run. It’s a favourite. I also love the Northern beaches, Palm beach, and Avalon for its wild Aussie expanse and the simplicity and beauty of Cronulla beach. Harbour Island, Bahamas is also a special place for my boys and I.

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